Chiropractor Treatment

A chiropractic physician is a conservative care physiciachiropractic physician n that offers CAM therapies for patients who present with a variety of health ailments. They work for the improvement of health without the use of drugs and surgical procedures. Many times chiropractic care provides relief from pain and an overall improvement in a patient’s health problem, in other circumstances a patient finds no relief from pain and they are appropriately referred to a different specialist for a different form of health care. A chiropractor treatment will vary from patient to patient depending on a number of factors, the first being the reason for the visit. The most common health problem that people will seek care from a chiropractic physician for is back pain. Cervical (neck) pain and lumbar (low back) pain occur in roughly 1 out of 4 adults each year in the United States. Many times a primary care physician will prescribe these patients pain medications to temporarily help diffuse symptoms but this only works for short periods of time. When a patient gets irritated from the lack of improvement and only small amounts of pain-free time, they seek the care of a licensed chiropractic physician.

Spinal Manipulation

A visit to the chiropractor will always begin with a health consultation. The patient should expect to arrive 10 to 20 minutes before their scheduled appointment to fill out patient intake forms for the physician to refer to. Once the consultation has begun, the chiropractor will discuss the medical history information with the patient and then perform a physical examination. The physical exam may sometimes include neurological testing if the symptoms suggest a specific problem. Although not required for all patients, in some instances diagnostic imaging may be necessary as well. If, after a patient has undergone the physical exam, chiropractic care is indicated, the patient will receive a spinal manipulation and other modalities if needed. These modalities include electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat/ice therapy and traction. Many times a chiropractic office also provides patients with a massage therapist who will see patients before or after the chiropractic appointment. Depending on the severity and longevity of a health problem, a patient’s treatment plan will vary. Some patients become symptom-free within a short period of time, others find pain relief takes a little longer. For the patients who do not find relief, a chiropractic physician will refer them to another healthcare specialty for continued care.

References Cited in this Article

www.acatoday.org

www.mayoclinic.com